Chapter 04

Back in the Genpei wartime. (源 平 合 戦 Genpei kassen, Genpei gassen) (1180–1185) a conflict between the Taira clan and Minamoto at the end of the Japanese Heian era. The war resulted in the downfall of the Taira clan and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under the leadership of Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192. The great war spread in all directions. Including to where Taka lives.

As head of the family, he advanced into battle to fight. Defend his territory, and also his family. Various clans fought each other at that time. And as a result, Taka's fiance died.

His fiance's father, cursed him for eternity to feel deep pain. Blazing revenge, and immortal body, he destroyed more than a thousand people from hundreds of clans. He slaughtered anyone who participated in the Genpei war. Also, he brought five demons with him. Yamato, Ayakashi, Raku, Nue, and Oni are named Akuma. The five demons helped him destroy all the clans.

However, after he killed so many lives, he understood one thing. That doesn't return his fiancée. He then met the holder of the Ouroboros seal. He intends to revive, his fiance.

However, the owner of the seal tells him, if later his fiance returns to life, she is just like a living corpse. The only way is to wait for the flow of reincarnation.

And, then, Taka surrendered. He finally waited for the reincarnation. For more than five hundred years. Then, he slept for almost four hundred years.

* Ouroboros is an ancient symbol that depicts snakes or dragons eating their own tails. The name comes from in Greek; οὐρά which means "tail" and βόρος which means "eat", so "he who eats tail".

* Yamata-no-Orochi (Japanese: 八 岐 の 大蛇) is a dragon-shaped creature from Japanese mythology who was defeated by Susanoo. The story of Yamato-no-Orochi is found in Kojiki and Nihongi.

* Nekomata (猫 又 / 猫 股) or bakeneko (化 け 猫) are creatures from Japanese mythological stories, believed to be a metamorphosis of domestic cats. It is said that when it was first discovered in the Hokkaido Devil Forest, it originated from the Forest of Death (different from the demon forest) in northern Hokkaido. The shape is in the form of a giant black cat monster, which is sometimes displayed with two large black angel wings. He is a pet of the God of Death. Nekomata lives on eating corpses and souls of the dead.

Legend has it, originally Nekomata was just a pet cat that was often tortured by its owner. After the cat reaches the age of ten years, the tail will slowly split into two parts, together with the increasing powers of necromancy (shamanism) and magic (necromancy) of the cat. Some people who believe this usually cut their cat's tail for fear of turning into a monster.

They are also astrologers and can raise the dead.

* AYAKASHI, a creature that is similar to an eel, his body is not so big but its length reaches thousands of meters, if he passes on a small boat, it can take 2 - 3 days for him to finish crossing it. If there are people who throw themselves away when AYAKASHI passes on a boat, then that person's body will melt due to oil released from AYAKASHI's skin. Not only that, they also have various forms.

Sometimes, Ayakashi can also be called a ghost that appears on the water.

* Nue is a mythological creature in Japanese folklore. He is described as a monkey-headed, tanuki-bodied, tiger-legged, and snake-tailed creature. According to legend, a nue can change shape into a black cloud and then fly. Because of his appearance, he is sometimes referred to as the Japanese khimera.

* Oni is a type of Yokai or ghost from a Japanese fairy tale which is usually interpreted as a demon Ogre or Troll. Oni is a popular character in traditional Japanese art in both performances and literature. The depiction of Oni is very diverse but is usually portrayed by a large, ugly giant with sharp nails, thick hair and two horns that grow above his head.

Most of the body parts are similar to humans but sometimes they appear with unusual features such as an odd number of eyes or a greater number of toes and hands. Their skin color is also sometimes mentioned as diverse, but red and blue are usually identified with their skin color.

The five of them then scattered, waiting for Taka to wake up while continuing their lives.

* The Battle of Sekigahara was a battle that took place on 15 September 1600 according to the lunar calendar in Sekigahara, Fuwa district, Mino Province, Japan.

The battle involved the party led by Tokugawa Ieyasu against Ishida Mitsunari in the struggle for power after Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death.

At that time, Taka just passed by. He did not join the battle. He passed while on his way to find a place to sleep. He intends to wait until he finds the reincarnation of his fiancée.

Now, after hundreds of years of sleep, he is awakened again. He felt a vibration that made him sure, if his fiance had reincarnated.

********

Taka woke up when sunlight hit his face. Then, he immediately got up and showered. In the living room, Yamato was sitting cross-legged while holding a wine bottle with Ayakashi. While in the kitchen, Raku is cooking.

"They can adapt well, apparently."

Taka smiled seeing what Raku was doing. Then, he turned to Yamato and Ayakashi.

"You guys did it all night?"

"Huh? Erm, we just started."

Ayakashi grimaced as he raised his wine bottle.

"Don't make my house smell like alcohol. If you want to drink it, do it outside."

"Well, we understand."

Then, Yamato stood up and moved to the balcony of the apartment with Ayakashi.

"By the way, are Nue and Akuma not here yet?"

Ayakashi then looked to his left, staring at the rising sun.

"Maybe, they are busy."

Then, Yamato drank the wine in his bottle. At the same time, Taka took his bag and left for school.

"You didn't eat breakfast first, sir?"

Raku who saw Taka leaving immediately chased after him.

"Ah, no. I'll just take the bread."

Taka then returned to the dining table and took a piece of bread, then left.

"A lot has changed. Or is it just a change from him?"

Raku kept staring at the door where Taka came out.

"Well, maybe, he's adjusting to the times."

Ayakashi replied while taking a bowl of soup from the dining table and took it to the balcony to eat with Yamato.

"Put it back, or I'll beat you up."

"Come on, Raku. I'm hungry. Let us eat this."

Yamato immediately poured the soup bowl into his mouth. Leaving half the soup, which Ayakashi then drinks.

"Alright, just this time."

"Well, it's also better when it's still warm, isn't it?"

Ayakashi answered while cleaning the bottom of the bowl with his tongue.